California Petition for Independence Advances, But Becoming an Independent Country Isn’t a Guarantee
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has given the green light for a campaign to gather signatures in support of holding a vote on whether California should leave the United States and become an independent country. The proposed question reads, “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?” If the proposal passes with a majority “yes” vote, it would constitute a vote of no confidence in the United States and an expression of the will of the people of California to become an independent state.
According to the initiative, 546,651 signatures, which constitute 5% of the total votes cast for Governor Gavin Newsom in the 2022 election, need to be collected and submitted by July 22, 2025. If successful, a commission would be established to report on California’s viability as an independent country. The results of the vote would not be legally binding, and the federal government would be under no obligation to respect its outcome.
Calexit, a group campaigning for Californian independence, cites Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential election win as a reason why California should reconsider its relationship with the United States. In response to the proposed initiative, Twitter user @iAnonPatriot posted, “Liberals are now pushing for California to become an independent country.”
Despite the advances made by the initiative, it remains unclear whether the proposal will successfully gather the required signatures. Moreover, the United States Constitution does not provide a mechanism for state secession, stating that admission to the Union is final and irreversible, except through revolution or consent of the states.
